Folding tray or lap-board.



G. N. ANDERSON.

FOLDING TRAY OR LAP BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1-. 1915.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Juan/who 7 G11. ands r6021 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN 60-, WASHINGTON n. n

GUST N. ANDEBSQN, OF HAWARDEN, IOWA.

FOLDING TRAY on LAP-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14 info.

Application filed March 1, 1915. Serial No. 11,218.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, GUST N. Annnnson, a citizen of the United States,residing at flawarden, in the county of Sioux and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Trays or Lap-Boards; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding trays or lap boards.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple andinexpensive device of this character which may be readily extended foruse or folded into neat compact form for transportation or storage, andone wherein the flexible cover will when the device is extended, bemaintained taut and rigid to present a smooth supporting surface forarticles resting upon the board.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, and the combination and ar rangement ofparts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a plan view of theboard constructed in accordance with this invention and shown inextended operative position; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken onthe line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section talren onthe line 3-8 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe rods disassembled and arranged in juxtaposition ready forconnection; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of a portion of a rod withthe parts in assembled position; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section takenon the line 66 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on theline 77 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the improved device comprises as a whole acollapsible frame 1 and a flexible sheet or covering 2 designed to bemaintained in taut distended position by the frame 1 to present acomparatively rigid surface or table.

The frame 1 includes in its organization end members or rods 3 which areinserted in casings 4: formed at opposite ends of the sheet 2, saidcasings being preferably formed by turning over the ends-of the flexiblesheet and stitching the folded portion transversely to form saidcasings, the ends being here shown extended some distance beyond thecasing and secured at their sides and at points intermediately of theirwidth to form pockets 5 which may be used for holding cards when thedevice is used as a card table, and is especially adapted for this usewhen traveling. These rods 3 are of a length slightly longer than thewidth of the sheet 2 and have their opposite ends bent inwardly at rightangles to form connecting arms 6, said arms being notched transverselyat their terminals to adapt them to be connected to the side members ofthe frame to be described.

The side members 7 and 8 of the frame 1 are each shown in the form oftelescopically engaged. sections 9 and 10, the section 10 being intheform of a tube with one end thereof slit longitudinally at diametricallyopposite points as shown at 11 and exteriorly threaded, said threadedportion tapering toward its free end for a purpose to be described. Theother end of the tube 10 has a pin 12 extending transverselytherethrough at a point spaced inwardly from its terminal and which isdesignedv to be inserted in the notch or slot formed in the terminal ofone of the arms 6 of the cross rod l. The section 9 which is slidablymounted in the tube 10 is shown in the form of a solid rod, one end ofwhich is designed to be inserted in the tube 10 and connected therewithby means of a winged nut 13, the bore of which is threaded and taperedto adapt it to clamp the slit end of the tube when the wing is screwedhome thereon to force said end into clamping engagement with the rod 9and thereby rigidly connect said rod and tube. A sleeve 14: is mountedon the opposite end of the rod 9 and is designed to engage the arm 6 ofthe other cross rod at the opposite end of the lap board so that whenthe parts are assembled with the sleeve 14: engaging one arm 6 of one ofthe cross rods of the frame and with the pin carrying end of the tubeengaged with the notched or slotted end of the arm 6 of the cross rod 4at the other end of the frame, the sections 9 and 10 are extended totightly stretch the sheet 2 on the frame 1 and when the desired tautnesshas been obtained, the nuts 13 are screwed into clamping engagement withthe threaded ends of the tubes 10 and the lap board will then be readyfor use, the flexible sheet 2 being held stretched taut on the frame. Bynotching the ends of the arms 6 of the cross rods 4: and connecting themwith the tubes for clamping the sections Qand 10 in ad 7 j ustedposition.

To prevent the sheet 1 from sagging intermediately of its ends, straps15 are preferably mounted on the rods 9 and are provided with fasteningelements 16 for engaging the sheet 2 at the adjacent side edges thereof,said fastening elements here bein shown in the form of snaps of the balland socket type such as are usually employed on gloves 1 or similararticles. When these.

straps are secured to the sides of the sheet 2, said sheet Wlll'bBprevented from sagging and While one pair only of these straps areshown, it is obvious that any desired number may be employed at variouspoints on the frame to securely hold the sheet, as when the lap board isused for holding heavy articles it would be liable to cause the sideedges thereof to sag.

lVhen the device is to be folded for storage or transportation, the nuts13 are first loosened to permit the sections to slide relatively to eachother and thereby permit their disengagement from the rods of the crossrods 4 and the rods 9 may be completely housed within the tubes 10 asshown in Fig. 5 and be clamped in said housed or telescoped position bytightening up the nuts 13. After these side rods have been Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents.

yond the side edges of the sheet and bent laterally at right. anglesthereto to form. arms, said arms havlng their 'termlnals notched, sidebars composed of telescopically engaged sections, oneof said sectionsbeing tubularand the other solid, means for adjustably connecting thetelescoping sections,

the tubular section having a pin extending transversely of its outer endat a point spaced from its ternnnaland adapted to engage one of thesockets in an arm of the cross bar, the outer end of the solid sectionbeing provided with a sleeve for detachableengagement with the arm ofthe other cross bar. I In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my handin presence oftwo subscribing Y witnesses.

GUST N. ANDERSON. -lVitnesses: I

B. T. FRENQH, M. .SLIFE.

Washington, D. G."

